It's no secret that the Nintendo Wii U hasn't gotten off to a rip-roaring start, and that worries people ahead of the PS4 and Xbox 720 launch. But if the 3DS is any indication, all hope isn't lost just yet for the console.
The 3DS' slow start was a concern to many, especially when Nintendo slashed the price drastically only a few months after launch, but the handheld is now performing surprisingly well and selling software at a quick pace.
"We have 15 Nintendo-published titles available, both physically and digitally [on the 3DS]," said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime to GamesIndustry International. "So far in 2013, of those 15 available in this format, 11 percent of sales have come through full digital downloads of those games."
According to Fils-Aime, about 33 percent of Fire Emblem Awakening's sales have come from digital purchases.
"When the NPD numbers come out later this week, you're going to see life-to-date 3DS game sales surpass 20 million units in the U.S.," he said. "And that's just physical. It doesn't include digital sales. ... So far in 2013 — through April 15 — 3DS game sales are up 55 percent versus last year, counting both physical and digital."
Impressively, about 67 percent of all 3DS owners have connected their handheld to the Internet, and a majority of them have downloaded something from the Nintendo eShop, be it a demo, trailer or game.
The company clearly hopes to boost the handheld's future, as it revealed a wave of new titles on Wednesday. A new Zelda, Yoshi's Island, Mario & Luigi RPG, and Animal Crossing headline Nintendo's 3DS line-up, but the Wii U front has been especially quiet. Fils-Aime admitted sales have been disappointing, but don't expect much news until E3.
"What I would say about Wii U — and what Mr. Iwata has said — is that the pace of launches has been slower than we hoped," he said. "But as we prepare for E3, the pace of launches for Wii U is going to dramatically increase."
While Nintendo has expanded living room options with the Wii U, the company says it is primarily focused on gaming. That's not going to change, even if the Xbox 720 and PS4 end up hooking to your cable box and streaming TV.
"We believe consumers buy our systems first as a gaming system, then enjoy the other entertainment options, so that's why we're putting such a big emphasis on the gaming software," he said.
